Promising Chinese long jumper targets final berth at worlds

Chinese long jumper Shi Yuhao competes during a track and field event in Beijing, June 25, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

LONDON -- The 18-year-old Chinese long jumper Shi Yuhao was confident in his potential as he targeted a spot in the final ahead of his IAAF World Championships debut on Wednesday.

Shi jumped a new Asian Youth Record of 8.30m at the National Youth Athletics Championships last June, and he bettered that record by a hundredth of a meter one year later, also ranked seventh best of the season.

In rainy weather, Shi completed his first pregame training just outside of the London Stadium, which is the competition venue from August 4 to 13, but attached greater importance to himself than to the wet weather.

"An athlete should adapt to all kinds of weather, and I don't think that the weather will have too much impact on me," he pointed out.

Looking forward to his first World Championships appearance, Shi said he felt pretty "excited" to embrace it and hoped for a good start in his debut.

"I have been preparing for the World Championships since early this year, and aim at a personal best London," he commented.

Competing along with Wang Jianan, bronze medalist two years ago in Beijing, and Huang Changzhou, Shi says that his age may act a double-edge sword, as he is the youngest among all athletes in Chinese delegation this time.

"My age will pose some problems for me to keep a cool mind, but it's also an advantage," said Shi.

"I will fight for a berth among eight finalists, and then try as hard as I can," he added.